The Washington critic., 1887-12-09
A MEMORABLE GArHEnINa.
to Visiting Politicians by tho
National League.

The reception and banquet rendered the
Republican National Executive Com
mittec last night by the Republican Na-
tonal League at their club house, corner
Fourteenth and Massachusetts avenue,
was the most successful and brilliant af-
fair of its kind ever held in Washington.
The club house of the League was splcn-
didly adapted for the demonstration
being large and commodious, having
spacious halls and parlors handsomely
furnished. The west purlor, Il spacious
apartment was decorated with festoons
of thd national colors, while between tho
folds of the flags the pictures of de-
parted statesmen looked down upon the
distinguished gathering of the most
prominent Republican politicians and
statesmen of the day.
Invitations had been extended TO all
the Republican Senators and Members
Of the House Of Representatives and cx-
Members now in the city, to the promi-
nent Republican visitors who came to
attend the meeting Of the Executive
Committee, to the committee itself, and
the members of the various delegations
from the cities asking for the National
Convention. IL may be truly said that
no such gathering of distinguished pub
lie men has been held in Washington
under such happy auspices as that of
last evening.
General Beale, president of the
League, stood near the door for two
hours shaking hands with his distin-
guished guests. The visitors thronged
the west parlor, the broad staircase lead
ing to the second story, and filled the
commodious parlors and ante-rooms up
stairs. The house was u blaze of light
/ and color and brilliant decoration.
! Everybody was happy and wore
smile. Men who had not seen each
other for years met and exchanged
"reminiscences of former campaigns and
hot partisan fights. Little groups stood
around, telling anecdotes on public men.
! Others were seriously discussing politi-
cal plans. In fact, il was regular Re-
I publican love feast and house warming.
At 10 o'clock the doors of the banquet
hall were thrown open, revealing long
table, groaning under u profusion of the
good things 10 eat and drink, chefs
dGuvre of the caterers art. The large
crowd was waited ON without rush or
lnishap and every one well attended to.
After the clatter of knives and forks had
subsidized somewhat, Senator Cullom
L
and called the assemblage to order.
He led Off in his speech by stating
the aims and interests of the National
League. The Republican party, he de-
clared, would accept President Cleve-
lands gage of war and fight his party
to the end. In response TO vociferous
calls Senator Stewart of Nevada opened
his address by stating that ''the Repub-
lican party always wins when it fights
for Il principle"
Senators Manderson, Allison and Haw-
ley made addresses, which pleased the
audience, as did Mr.. Murat Halstead of
Cincinnati. Colonel Plummer of Dakota
made rousing speech in free, off-hand
manner, typical of the frank and fear
less West. Mr.. Cutcheon of Michigan,
Mr.. Morrow of California and Mr.. Nc
Comas Of Maryland made felicitous re-
marks.
Senator Evarts was profuse in his
praise of the National League and its
aims, and warmly commended the idea
of the home rs establishing national
headquarters for the Republican party.
The political animus of all the speeches
was that President Cleveland, in his
Message to Congress, had shown the
hand of the Democratic party and that
it would solidify the Republicans and
give them line of battle to fight upon.
The of the evening was spent in a con-
fab Of the chiefs. They knew they were
in their own wigwam and spoke freely
and without reserve. When the as
semblage went home at late hour it
was with the knowledge that the Ma
tional League had made happy stroke
at the beginning of the campaign.
| Among the prominent Republicans of this
city present were Messrs G. ID. Drake, ]. NJ.
| Wilson, A. NJ. Connell, Robert A.. Parke, A.
II. $. Davis, Eugene Hale John Hay, Cen
eral W. w. Belknap, u. w. Fox and Thomas
Kirby. Hon. Charles Emory Smith of Phil
adelphia. Hon. Mark NJ. Dunnell OF Mime
sofa, Hon. William Walter Phelps of Bos-
ton Hon. Steven u. Elkins of New Mexico,
Governor Kellogg. from Louisiana, and
Powell Clayton Of Arkansas, were noted
among the visitors. Senators Hawley, Sher-
man, ingalls,, Edmunds, Evarts, Mander-
son, Allison Sabin, Stewart, Sawyer,
and Cullom formed part of the Senatorial
contingent A large number of new mem
bers were added to the Leagues roster,
among whom were Gen. Dudley, Hon. s.
D. H. Hopkins, Cyrus NJ. Allen, Col. Dyer,
| Thomas Kirby, General Clemens, Colonel
Robert a. Parke, General w. w. Belknap,
Wm. NJ. Evarts and VIM. Walter Phelps.
| Professor I'ristoe on WCbemistry ~